Suicide in US Preteens Aged 8 to 12 Years, 2001 to 2022

This cross-sectional study investigates characteristics and trends in suicide rates among US preteens using national mortality data from 2001 to 2022.


Introduction
Youth suicide is a significant public health concern.In 2021, the National Institute of Mental Health convened a research roundtable series to address the rising rates of suicide in preteens, defined as youths aged 8 to 12 years. 1Participants emphasized the need for an improved understanding of suicide risk in preteen subpopulations, particularly those who historically experience health disparities or have been underrepresented in suicide research. 1Little is known about the epidemiology of preteen suicide, limiting our ability to inform targeted prevention strategies.We investigated characteristics and trends in suicide rates among US preteens using national mortality data from 2001 to 2022.

Methods
Data for this cross-sectional study were obtained from the Web-based Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) where suicide was listed as the underlying cause of death for US preteens from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2022. 2 The number of suicide deaths were extracted overall and by sex, race and ethnicity (eMethods in Supplement 1), suicide method, metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area, and region.Trends in were assessed using Joinpoint Regression, version 5.0.2.
Negative binomial regression models estimated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and corresponding 95% CIs to compare period trends using Stata/IC, version 16.0.Confidence intervals that did not include 1.00 were considered statistically significant.This study was not considered human participant research by the Nationwide Children's Hospital Institutional Review Board and was therefore deemed exempt from the need for approval or informed consent.We followed the STROBE reporting guideline.

Discussion
Study findings revealed a significant increase in the suicide rate among US preteens between the 2001-2007 and 2008-2022 periods.Results showing a disproportionate increase in female suicide rates relative to male expand on existing evidence depicting a narrowing of the historically large gap in youth suicide rates between sexes. 3Suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in female preteens

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Open Access.This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC-BY License. in male preteens ranked consistently as the 5th leading cause of death. 4nsistent with previous research, 5 Black preteens had the highest rates of suicide for both periods, whereas Hispanic preteens had the highest percentage increase.These findings highlight a need to better understand suicide risk among racial and ethnic subgroups, including multiracial individuals who comprise the fastest-growing racial group in the US. 6 While hanging or suffocation was the predominant method of suicide for the entire period, the largest increase in preteen suicides was by firearm.b Confidence intervals that did not include 1.00 were considered statistically significant.

Figure .
Figure.Trends in Suicide Rates for Youth Aged 8-12 Years in the US From 2001-2022 10 9

a
Periods were determined by significant suicide rate trends defined in the Figure.

Table .
Period Trends in Suicide Rates for Preteens in the US a